NCCU Law Students Gain Training for Child Advocacy
Five clinical law students from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) have completed a rigorous 30-hour training program through the Durham County Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program, positioning them to advocate for children involved in cases of abuse and neglect. The students participated in training alongside Interim Associate Dean Katrina Smith, culminating in a swearing-in ceremony officiated by Chief District Court Judge Doretta Walker.
The newly sworn advocates include Deja Bradford, Juliana Kushmakova-Yakubova, Zachary Parisian, Jasmine Peele Garcia, and Ashley Witherspoon. The GAL Program is designed to ensure that children who have faced abuse or neglect are represented in court, allowing their voices and best interests to be taken into account during legal proceedings.
Roles and Responsibilities of GAL Volunteers
As part of their role, GAL volunteers collaborate with attorney advocates to gather pertinent information about the children’s situations. This includes conducting interviews, visiting the children, preparing court reports, and making recommendations to the court that reflect the children’s best interests. For the law students, this training served as a vital opportunity to enhance their advocacy skills while gaining firsthand insight into the complexities faced by children and families within the legal system.
Zachary Parisian highlighted the importance of ensuring that children’s voices are heard, stating, “Too often the voices of children involved in legal matters not of their making are muffled or their needs and wants determined by people who rarely consult the child or children.” He underscored the significance of the GAL Volunteer Program in advocating for children’s rights in court.
Personal Reflections on the Training Experience
Ashley Witherspoon reflected on the training as a transformative experience that solidified her dedication to advocating for vulnerable youth. She expressed, “This experience has only deepened my conviction that every child deserves safety during those most formative years when they cannot protect themselves.” Witherspoon emphasized her commitment to being a strong advocate for children, recognizing the impact her work could have on their future.
Meanwhile, Jasmine Peele Garcia, who aspires to specialize in family law, pointed out the importance of considering the broader implications of legal decisions on children and families. She stated, “My GAL training reminded me that behind every custody dispute or family matter is a child whose life is directly impacted by the decisions being made.” She emphasized the need to approach legal matters with an understanding of the child’s perspective.
Integrating Training into Legal Education
Katrina Smith shared her rationale for including GAL training in the Family Law Clinic curriculum, aiming to equip students with essential skills for effective representation in family court. She noted, “I made Guardian ad Litem training a required component of the Family Law Clinic to deepen our students’ understanding of what effective advocacy in family court demands: careful listening, thorough investigation, and the discipline to distinguish their own assumptions from the lived realities of the families they serve.” Smith believes these skills are crucial in understanding the objectives of clients while considering the implications for the children involved in custody disputes.
Source: North Carolina Central University
